In 1994 the Jacob Wetterling Act established the first national sex offender registry law, and Indiana’s “Zachary’s Law” placed their state registry online. In 1996 “Megan’s Law” was passed at the federal level, forcing states to maintain publicly accessible registries and allowing all levels of community notification. In 1997 the U.S. Supreme Court upheld civil commitment in Kansas v. Hendricks, and a year later, Delaware passed the first law requiring registrants to carry a special ID card. In 2005 strict mandatory minimum laws were created with the Jessica Lunsford Act…
Read MoreDay: March 30, 2014
NE: Norfolk man gets chance to be free of the label ‘offender’
LINCOLN — ___ ___ stands before two rare opportunities that could change the course of his life. One could restore his reputation. The other could revive a dream. The 25-year-old Norfolk man recently participated in a free-agent tryout for a chance to punt in the National Football League. His odds of making it, though slim, would improve if not for three words that turn up on the background check: registered sex offender. So when ___ isn’t punting, he’s working toward a pardon. He took a step closer Thursday when the Nebraska Board of Pardons…
Read MoreAsk Amy: Young girl is at risk during visitation with dad
DEAR AMY: I have a 6-year-old granddaughter whose parents are not together. In a couple of months, when she goes to visit her dad (my son), she may be in proximity to a man who was incarcerated for molestation. This man is the brother of my son’s girlfriend, and the two siblings live together in their parents’ home. I am very anxious about this. I plan to tell my son that it would be best for his daughter’s safety and security if he would change the visitation location. I have…
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